In Special Flood Hazard Areas, Martin County requires the lowest finished floor of any new or substantially improved structure to be at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). This is codified in the Land Development Regulations Article 4, Division 10 (Flood Protection).
The 1-foot freeboard above BFE applies to the lowest finished floor of all new construction and substantial improvements in any SFHA mapped on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Martin County. The requirement extends to attached garages, enclosures below the BFE (which must use flood-vented breakaway walls), crawlspaces, and machinery or equipment servicing the building (HVAC, electrical panels, water heaters). 'Substantial improvement' is any work whose value equals or exceeds 50% of the structure's market value; cumulative improvements over time can also trigger the threshold. Variance applications are governed by LDR 4.428.
Construction below the required elevation in an SFHA is a violation of both the LDR and the Florida Building Code, and may render the property ineligible for affordable flood insurance under the NFIP. Corrective action — elevating or demolishing — may be required. Code Enforcement Board fines apply under Fla. Stat. 162.09 (up to $250/day first; $500/day repeat).
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See how Martin County's flood elevation rules stack up against other locations.
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